Insider Brief
- A group of quantum scientists has published a manifesto opposing the use of quantum research for military purposes and is seeking additional signatories worldwide.
- The document calls for a collective rejection of defense-funded projects, greater transparency around military-academic partnerships and the creation of a public database listing military-funded research at universities.
- The signatories argue that growing defense investment in quantum technologies risks undermining academic independence and entangling universities in national security agendas.
- Image: Photo by Merlin Lightpainting on Pexels
A group of quantum scientists has published a manifesto rejecting the use of quantum research for military purposes and is seeking signatures from researchers around the world.
So far, 250 scientists have signed the “manifesto,” according to Physics World.
The document, titled “Quantum Scientists for Disarmament: a Manifesto,” frames itself as a response to what the scientists describe as an accelerating global arms buildup and a growing alignment between universities and defense agencies. According to the manifesto, the signatories firmly oppose militarization within academia and categorically reject the use of their research for military applications, surveillance or population control.
Marco Cattaneo from the University of Helsinki in Finland, who co-authored the manifesto, told Physics World that the manifesto grew out of a quantum-information workshop that was held in Spain in 2025.
“During a session on science policy, we realized that many of us shared the same concerns about the growing militarization of quantum science and academia,” Cattaneo told Physics World. “As physicists, we have a strong – and terrible – historical example that can guide our actions: the development of nuclear weapons, and the way the physics community organized to oppose them and to push for their control and abolition.”
Primary Goals
The scientists’ primary goals include: to express a unified rejection of military uses of quantum research; to open debate within the quantum community about ethical implications; to create a forum for researchers concerned about militarization; and to advocate for a public database listing all research projects at public universities funded by military or defense agencies.
Quantum technologies rely on the behavior of matter and light at the smallest scales, enabling ultra-secure communication, highly sensitive sensors and powerful computing systems. According to the manifesto, these capabilities are increasingly being folded into defense strategies worldwide. The document cites examples such as quantum key distribution for secure military communications, space-based quantum radar for satellite surveillance, precision navigation using quantum clocks and sensors designed for drones and other defense platforms.
The manifesto places these developments in the context of rising defense budgets, particularly in Europe following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The scientists write in the manifesto that the research and development sector is not exempt from the broader rearmament trend and that dual-use technologies — those that can serve both civilian and military ends — are increasingly prioritized in policy documents.
The scientists acknowledge that quantum technologies are not inherently military tools. However, according to the manifesto, once such systems are developed, their applications may be difficult to control. The scientists argue that closer institutional ties between universities and defense agencies risk undermining academic independence. The reliance on military funding can entangle research institutions with national security objectives in ways that are hard to reverse, according to the group.
Transparency and Funding
The manifesto calls for the creation of a publicly accessible database listing all military-funded research projects at public universities. The scientists write in the manifesto that existing information is often fragmented or opaque, making it difficult for researchers and the public to assess the scope of military involvement in academic science.
The document also raises concerns about partnerships between universities and major defense contractors. According to the manifesto, such collaborations may contribute to broader military supply chains, including in conflict zones, raising ethical questions for researchers whose work is tied to dual-use technologies.
The scientists who signed the document include physicists and quantum researchers from institutions across Europe, Asia and the Americas, ranging from early-career scientists to established figures in the field. The manifesto states that its purpose is not to target individual researchers who accept defense funding, but to encourage collective reflection on the broader system of military-academic collaboration.
Cattaneo told Physics World that the group does not expect to stop the technology’s military application completely.
“Even if military uses of some quantum technologies cannot be completely stopped, we can still advocate for excluding them from public universities, for abolishing classified quantum research in public research institutions, and for creating associations and committees that review and limit the militarization of quantum technologies,” Cattaneo said, according to Physics World.
